Graphical Multiscale Web Histories: A Study of PadPrints
Graphical Multiscale Web Histories: A Study of PadPrints
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Date
1998-11-12
Authors
Hightower, Ron R.
Ring, Laura T.
Helfman, Jonathan I.
Bederson, Benjamin B.
Hollan, James D.
Advisor
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Abstract
We have implemented a browser companion called PadPrints that dynamically
builds a graphical history-map of visited web pages. PadPrints relies on
Pad++, a zooming user interface (ZUI) development substrate, to display the
history-map using minimal screen space. PadPrints functions in conjunction
with a traditional web browser but without requiring any browser modifications.
We performed two usability studies of PadPrints. The first addressed general
navigation effectiveness. The second focused on history-related aspects of
navigation. In tasks requiring returns to prior pages, users of PadPrints
completed tasks in 61.2% of the time required by users of the same browser
without PadPrints. We also observed significant decreases in the number of
pages accessed when using PadPrints. Users found browsing with PadPrints more
satisfying than using Netscape alone.
(Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-98-33)